by soyinkafan [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Ron Oden, former Mayor of Palm Springs, is just starting his introductory remarks.  It's a packed room here at the Palm Desert Library's Community Room.  I recognize many faces here, the Democrats have been waiting for this for a long time.

I'll do my best to transcribe below.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Here is the entire transcript of what Fabian Nunez, Speaker of the California State Assembly, had to say and his answers to questions in a press conference on the Assembly floor flanked by members of the Democratic caucus. Nunez took personal responsibility for the passage of Proposition 93. He announced that although he had offered to resign this summer as Speaker he will remain in the position and that there would be a vote on March 11 for a new Speaker to assume the position at the end of the session.

Nunez also revealed some personal details: That he will take some time off after he leaves office and will not run for the State Senate or Mayor of Los Angeles in 2010. He spoke emotionally about what the honor of being Speaker has meant to him.

“We have a very important announcement to make here today. As all of you know, the results of Tuesday’s election brought about a wave of change to California, and in particular, Sacramento. While there has been a lot of rumor and speculation about what may become of the Assembly Democratic leadership, I first want to say that today, for me, is one of my proudest days as a member of the California State Assembly and certainly as a member of the Democratic Caucus.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sara S. Nichols

Democratic party environmental caucus chair, political consultant and poet Luke Breit is the author of The Tumultuous Times of Jesus in the 21st Century--a novel in which Jesus Christ returns as a wine-drinking, pot-smoking yet spiritually powerful (and politically connected) hippie. By hanging out with Mark, a California political consultant running a primary campaign for a Democrat for Assembly, He discovers what the fundamentalist Christians are doing in His name politically. Naturally His only logical response is to take a road trip with Mark and his gorgeous ex-hooker girlfriend across the country and to join the inner circle of (a female latina) Democratic candidate for President.

I caught up with Luke at a coffee house in mid-town Sacramento to discuss his book. When I arrived, he was sitting in a crisp white oxford, working away on his laptop—clearly at home in the Naked Lounge.

by Ilya Sheyman [courtesy of Blog for America]

With the New Hampshire primary fast approaching, I wanted to wrap up our trip to Iowa last week. Out trip began with us spending a whirlwind day in Davenport which I blogged about earlier. Here's a photo of Jim leading a discussion at the Live from Iowa Link Up. Nearly 700 of you have now listened to the call via our brand new channel at blogtalk radio. Thanks for all your feedback and a special shoutout to San Diego Meetup #23 which participated in the call from their monthly meeting.

That night, Jim, Danny, Matt and I headed over to Des Moines to be in the center of things for the caucuses. And, we were not dissapointed. Our day began at 7:30 am as we headed out for a John Edwards rally at the Steelworkers Hall in the southeast part of town. After navigating through the many one way streets, we finally arrived just in time to hear Senator Edwards rally the volunteers on their busiest day yet.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Rudy Giuliani (left, in drag), the former New York City mayor who takes great pains to remind us ofhis "leadership" on 9/11, has opened up a hefty lead among theCalifornia GOP, according to a new Field Poll. The Sacramento Beereports that Arizona Senator John McCain, once considered theRepublican heir apparent, has dropped to an anemic fourth place at 9percent.

The budget stand-off has attracted scant attention because the debate has been unusually civil, writes Daniel Weintraub in today's Bee. Weintraub believes Republicanshave the most to gain from holding out. I say give it a few more weeksand our GOP friends in the Senate will start feeling the squeeze.

Last week, Republican Caucus Chair George Runner had the audacity tosuggest that real people weren't all that hurt by the budget hold-up.Almost on cue, the San Francisco Chronicle details the hundreds of child care centers in the Bay Area alone that are missing payments and near closure. These are real life kids with real life futures whose parents may not be able to take a week off of work.

There's more...

Photo courtesy of Liberal Values.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

by Guest Author [courtesy of Party Line]

From Rachel Binah, California DNC Member, active member of the Environmental Caucus (and former Caucus Chair) Bob Hattoy founded the Environmental Caucus of the California Democratic Party. He knew that we must educate, support and occasionally prod Democrats to be...